Postal Service Formally Opens Contract Talks

WASHINGTON — Postal officials and union leaders today formally opened what will likely be months of grueling contract talks.

“I hope that the parties will communicate together and work together to gain a contract marked by fairness and flexibility,” Postmaster General Anthony M. Frank said.

The financially strapped Postal Service is preaching moderation, meaning it hopes that workers will hold down their financial demands.

But union leaders say their members should not suffer because of management’s inability to improve efficiency and hold down costs.

“We don’t want the public to be gouged, but we’re not going to take the blame for poor management either,” said Moe Biller, president of the American Postal Workers Union.

Labor contracts between the U.S. Postal Service and its four largest unions expire Nov. 20. The labor groups represent 660,000 workers.